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We arrived at Backstage around 5:30 PM, where we were allowed to do an interview with the band and got some questions answered right away. (see the interview on Ramtatta….) Afterwards, we also squeezed the guys from Zaunpfahl for some insights behind the scenes (see also the interview on Ramtatta…) BETONTOD had a very diligent crew with them, and somehow there was always someone doing something. It's certainly great to have such reliable people on tour. Everything looked quite structured and well-organized, which ensured a smooth setup and teardown during the gig. The Backstage was packed, which noticeably contributed to the atmosphere in the hall.
Around 8 PM, the first surprise of the evening was about to happen: ZAUNPFAHL in their new lineup. The mood in the audience was already great at this early hour, and the guys kicked off with a lot of energy. I had never seen ZAUNPFAHL play in front of such a large audience, and they mastered their show as the opener for BETONTOD with flying colors. The atmosphere was fantastic, there was awesome pogo, and during hits like "Kreuze" and "Polizisten," voices singing along could be heard throughout the hall. It was evident that Goethe and his bandmates were having fun during the performance. A crew member from the BETONTOD crew even made a guest appearance with the Pfählen. Overall, it was a really great performance, and one got the impression that the new lineup of ZAUNPFAHL harmonizes very well together. I have seen the guys a few times now, but today's performance was my favorite. The sound was also great, thanks to the sound engineer Struki from PIRATENPAPST, who was responsible for it. It should also be mentioned that he had never been on such a tour before and handled everything really professionally.
After a slightly longer changeover, BETONTOD took the stage. The concert opened with new songs from the album "Traum von Freiheit," including my favorite from the record, "Flügel aus Stahl." Many songs from the album "Schwarzes Blut" were also performed, and musically and technically, the band really knows their stuff. The sound matched the songs, just like you know the hits from the recordings. It was going off well, and slowly a wild pogo crowd formed. The atmosphere was fantastic throughout the concert, and during the hit "Traum von Freiheit," everything seemed ready to burst. The only negative aspect I noticed was the not-so-few "Frei.Wild" shirt wearers in the audience, even though one should know by now how things stand with that band. Fortunately, BETONTOD recognized the need to continue to take a clear stance against racism and made corresponding statements. So, anyone who still has prejudices against the band should keep this tour report or the interview with the band in mind. There is nothing to blame anyone for here. I think those stuck in the past should no longer wander into BETONTOD concerts.
Musically, the concert was a nice mix of old and new BETONTOD hits. That the band is now mainstream-compatible is certainly no secret, and even though I and perhaps many others prefer the old songs (lyrics) because they have less "oh" and "ah" and more substance, it must be said that the band has earned their success. Everyone has to decide for themselves which direction they want to go. BETONTOD really delivered a highly professional concert and musically, as well as technically, they really know their stuff! I then followed the end of the concert from behind the stage and watched the guitar tech "Tommi" from TOXPACK over his shoulder. As you can tell, the bands all know each other, and it's somehow great when they support each other a little. Tommi was also brought on stage for a guest appearance. In the end, the band brought everyone involved in the tour on stage to honor them, thanked the crew, and their support band ZAUNPFAHL. All in all, a very interesting evening with two great concerts from ZAUNPFAHL and BETONTOD.